Clarke Central High School English department teachers get in their holiday spirit by donning holiday gear while on the English department wing on Dec. 14, 2017– an initiative led by Lisa Hill (first row, center). Department members worked to show cohesion for the benefit of students and morale but with three teachers leaving this year, there will be personnel changes for the upcoming school year. “Hill has been a really big part of the department and also just the school community, like kids love her. She goes out of her way to make sure kids feel happy and excited to be at school. She cares deeply for her students and also for her coworkers, so it’s going to be a big loss,” English department teacher Andy Dean said. Photo courtesy of Lisa Hill
With the departure of three teachers from the English department at Clarke Central High School, the school has hired four more teachers for the department.
As the 2018-19 school year closes out at Clarke Central High School, the English department will experience a shake up with the departure of experienced teachers Lisa Hill, Ginger Lehmann and William Clark.
“Hill has been a really big part of the department and also just the school community, like kids love her. She goes out of her way to make sure kids feel happy and excited to be at school. She cares deeply for her students and also for her coworkers, so it’s going to be a big loss,” English department teacher Andy Dean said.
The department will gain an additional teaching position based on 2019-20 student enrollment. Therefore, four positions will need to be filled. When looking for new hires, the Interview Team, consisting of English department chairs Ian Altman and David Ragsdale and members of the Administration Team, conduct interviews until they have come to an agreement on potential hires.
For Altman, there are key elements he looks for in candidates.
“Basic intelligence (is something I look for). And for the English department, they need to know literature quite apart from their education preparation. They need to actually know a lot,” Altman said.
The English department has already hired three teachers for the four open positions for next school year. Dean, who has worked at CCHS for four years, believes a good colleague must put the kids first.
“I would say folks that are open to different ideas and (are) willing to do what’s in the best interest of kids and just making sure that our students are taken care of and growing not just academically, but also emotionally (are who should be hired),” Dean said.
Story by Caedmon Churchwell
